Medicinal boot or shoe.



No. 662,223.. Patented Nov. 20, |900.

H. F. CRAWFORD.

MEDICINAL BOUT 0R SHOE.

(Application filed July 9. 1900.)

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@Nitro HARVEY F. CRAVFORD, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

NIEDICINAL. BOOT OR SHOE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N o. 662,223, dated November 20, 1900.

Application filed July 9, 1900. Serial No. 22,926. KNO model.)

To MZ whom, t may con/cern,.-

Be it known that LHARVEY F. CRAwFoRD,a citizen of the United States,residing at Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Hassachusettsdiaveinventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Medicinal Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accom panying drawings.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a shoe constructed in accordance with myinvention, the upper being removed for greater clearness. Fig. 2 is a central lengthwise section on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 shows a modification.

The object of my invention is to provide boots, shoes, slippers, and the like with sanative or medicinal means which may operate through the feet of the wearer; and my invention, broadly stated, consists in the combination of a chambered heel provided with a medicinal battery,77 as I term it, that is in effective communication with the insole as the medicine-distributing factor of the combination.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of myinvention and the best mode now known to me of applying that principle, d is the heel, and b the outersole,ofashoe. Heel a is formed with a recess a', which extends from the top of the heel part way down to the bottom thereof. Recess ct' forms a receptacle to hold the battery7 d, by which I mean any mass or device possessed of curative or exercising sanitary or health-benefiting qualities-such, for example, as a medicated mass which, or the vapors 0r proximity lor effect of which, would benefit the wearer by being brought into contact with or into proximity to his feet, or such as a voltaic battery with proper leads, as hereinafter mentioned.

The heel portion of insole Z9 is preferably perforated at b2 to correspond to the recess a' and permit the ready insertion and removal of the battery, which may be covered, if desired, by the usual sock-lining, but which is shown covered by a special cover. The insole is suitably perforated at b4, dac., forward of the heel portion, the perforations b" being connected with the battery by means of conductors D, these conductors being eitherchannels through which the contents of the battery may pass to the perforations b4 or wires through which currents from a voltaic battery may pass. I here use the term conductor in its broadest sense, meaning thereby an effective means of communication between the battery in the heel and the perforations through the insole forwardly of the heel, at which perfor-ations the bottom of the wearers foot is brought into proximity with the contents of or sanative force or influence in the perforations b4, whatever such contents may be.

In Figs. l and Z, illustrating one form of my invention, the battery d in the recess or receptacle d in the heel is made up 'of alternating disks of zinc z and copper c, the copper or positive plate forming the outermost element of the pile. The lowermost Zinc element z is connected by an electrical conductor z with Zinc electrodes z2 in certain of the perforations b4, and the uppermost copper element of the pile is connected by wire c with copper electrodes c2 in other of the perforations b4. In addition to these elements the receptacle ct is provided with any suitable energizing material, such as acetic acid or the like, and when the shoe is in use the foot of the wearer contacting with the electrodes c2 and completes the circuit. If desired, the opening of receptacle a" may be provided with a cover d2 of any suitable construction, shown in this case as one which screws into the opening of the receptacle. The walls of the recess will ordinarily absorb more or less of the acidulous agent, remain moist, and keep the plates in condition for electrical action.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the battery d is a medicinal mass which extends through the conductor-channels and into the perforations b4. As an example of what such a medicated mass may be I will mention as one of the numerous examples a salicylic-acid ointment.

The advantage of my invention is that a very considerable battery of any desired kind may be readily carried in the recessed heel and brought into communication with the bottom of the wearers feet, so that medication may be effected by galvanic currents or by absorption of proper medicaments.

/Vhat I claim isl. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a IOO heel having a recess which extends from the upper surface of the heel part way down to the bottom thereof, with an insole perforated forwardly of said recessed heel, and a battery mounted in said recess and operatively con` nected with said perforations.

2. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a heel having a recess which extends from `the y upper surface of the heel part way down to electrode in the insole; and connecting a neg'- ative element of the battery with a negative electrode in the insole.

4. In a boot or shoe, the combination of a heel having a recess which extends from the upper surface of the heel part way down to the bottom thereof; with an insole having a perforation in its heel part above the opening of said recess.

5. The combination in a boot or shoe of a heel having a recess which extends from its upper portion part way. to its bottom with a sanative battery in said recess.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARVEY F. CRAWFORD.

Witnesses:

EDWARD S. BEACH, E. A. ALLEN. 

